Tips for Promoting Eyesight Development in Your Children

Kids grow rapidly and rely on senses like their vision to make sense of the world and develop mentally and physically. During this process, they also face the risk of developmental vision problems. 

To make sure their vision stays as good as possible, there are some things you should look out for. Protect their vision by examining the common conditions that affect it, the symptoms that they may develop, and the methods of treatment.

Residents of the Pelham Gardens part of the Bronx, New York looking for ways to protect their children’s eyes can find help with the team of optometrists at Bronx Eye Associates.

Common vision issues in children

Here are some common eye problems your child can find themselves facing:

• Myopia: also called nearsightedness, this is when it’s harder to see things farther away
• Hyperopia: The opposite problem of myopia, also known as farsightedness, this is when it’s harder to make out things closer to you
• Lazy eye (amblyopia): when one eye isn’t able to to develop full visual acuity which can cause a cross-eyed appearance
• Crossed eyes (strabismus): misaligned or crossed eyes, where it may appear eyes are looking in two different directions

Managing these issues is important to prevent your child from dealing with problems interacting in their environment, reading, and learning in class.

Signs of eye problems in your child

In children with vision trouble, there are clues to look for, such as head tilting, squinting, holding objects nearer or farther away from themselves, light sensitivity, problems with hand eye coordination, or a disinterest in reading or looking at distant objects. 

If they start showing these signs despite previously enjoying reading, drawing, or other things that require focused vision, it’s likely the symptoms of a newly developed problem and should get medical attention.

Ways to protect their eye health

If there are indications of vision problems these are some things you can do to preserve their eyes:

Safety glasses and eye protection

This is a good idea for children playing sports, but is also useful when they’re around people doing hazardous work like using power tools or if they’re mowing the lawn, or doing other activities that can cause small particles to get in their eyes.

A balanced diet

What you eat also plays a big role in your eye health, so a diet high in vitamins A,C, and E, zinc, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids found in eggs, fish, fruits, and leafy green vegetables can help protect them.

Limiting screen time

We live in a time when everyone is spending more time on screens, whether from TVs, computers or handheld devices, and that can raise your risk of myopia or eye strain. Monitor their screen time to keep their eyes in good shape.

Stay vigilant

Even after you get them the help they need for a condition, make sure the new treatment is doing its job and stay alert if you see signs of a new problem.

Eye health is important for everyone, and your children need the best chance at healthy eyes as they develop to keep them that way for a long time. If you see signs of eye problems, make an appointment with the team at Bronx Eye Associates today to get them the help they need.